Measles At The Airport

A passenger that flew through BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport near Baltimore to Denver, Colo., and then flew to Albuquerque, N.M. this last week was found to have measles. While most Americans are immune or have been vaccinated, officials are still taking the proper precautions by informing all that may have come into contact aboard the planes or in the airport.

AP - KBZK

The New Mexico Department of Health's scientific laboratory division didn't identify the traveler by name but said she was a 27-year-old Santa Fe, N.M., woman who had not been immunized against measles.

"The appropriate steps are being taken to reach out to those passengers on the plane that were in close enough proximity," Skinner said of those seated five rows in front or behind the infected passenger.

Although most Americans have been vaccinated for measles or are immune because they've had the disease, public health officials are concerned about those not immunized, including babies. Pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems are also more at risk.

Authorities say people who were at the airports at the same time as the infected traveler and develop a fever or other symptoms should contact their doctors.